Rochelle  – The Rochelle Area Community Foundation announced Thursday the first round of funding for nonprofit organizations who are providing essential needs to the community related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We were in the midst of evaluating 35 applications for programs and projects of local nonprofit organizations when the Governor issued stay at home orders due to the emerging pandemic of COVID- 19,” said RACF executive director Kim Montgomery. “Our Board of Directors and grants committee asked each of the applicants to review their current application in light of the new situation we all find ourselves in. We identified five applications that would provide for the immediate needs of the community and awarded a total of $15,150 to support the Rochelle Christian Food Pantry, Northern Illinois Food Bank, Habitat for Humanity of Ogle County and Farmworkers and Landscapers Advocacy Project.”

Other existing applications have been withdrawn or placed on hold pending emerging needs related to the pandemic.

“The board appreciates the gracious responses received from the organizations we support as we adjust to focus the resources available to meet existing and emerging needs,” Montgomery added.

The Rochelle Area Community Foundation is encouraging its nonprofit partners to first apply for funding through the 815 Community Response Team (815crt.org), a joint effort of the United Way, Community Foundation of Northern Illinois and other regional funders. The 815CRT receives the support of statewide efforts to meet immediate needs of the nonprofit organizations of Ogle County. Utilizing

those funds first will preserve RACF’s resources going forward and help to ensure distributions are not being duplicated.

The Rochelle Area Community Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose purpose is to serve the needs and philanthropic aims of donors who wish to better their community, now and in the future.